A MATHS teacher struck off four years ago for falsifying a job reference has been restored to the register.
Ali Abdel-Motalab said his life had been “destroyed” by the 2007 decision to ban him from the classroom.
The 51-year-old forged a reference from the principal of a school in Prestonpans,East Lothian, he had never met.
But after his deception was discovered and he was struck off, Mr Abdel-Motalab could not even get work as a teaching assistant.
The General Teaching Council Scotland (GTCS) decided today (Wed) that he should be allowed to return to the classroom.
Solicitor for Mr Motalab, John Gibb, added: “He has not tried to hide from the fact it was appalling conduct but he is 51 years old now and it was 4 and a half years ago.”
Mr Gibb told the hearing that they should consider “the passage of time” and the evidence given by Mr Motalab himself.
Mr Motalab said: “Every day I think about what I have done and it has destroyed my life. I don’t know what to tell my kids, I have not worked for five years. I accept that I was very very wrong.”
Emma Gilpin, lawyer for the GTCS, said: “The applicant was removed from the register due to intentional dishonesty. He has taken no steps to address this behaviour. There must be a concern,” she said.
But the disciplinary sub-committee unanimously agreed that Mr Motalab could be restored to the teaching register.
Convenor John Telford said “The sub- committee found evidence to be reliable and accepted he had reflected on his actions and took into account the remorse shown by the applicant.”
Mr Telforb also stated that they were satisfied Mr Motalab was not of significant risk of repeating his actions.
Mr Motalab has not been able to teach inScotlandsince March 2007. He had been teaching maths and Arabic at the Arabic school inEdinburgh
He declined to comment after the hearing in Edinburgh.
